Knowledge Of Violence Against Women - 1860 Words

Knowledge of violence against women has increased in recent decades. However, the legal system has not yet caught up. The rigid definition of what constitutes self-defense has led to the conviction of many battered women who kill their partners. Through a legal and psychological lens many have examined this phenomenon, delving deeper than the superficial and one-dimensional definitions set by the courts. There is a difference between what is considered situational intimate couple violence, and instances of battered women syndrome. The key characteristic of battering is the longevity of the abuse. Due to its time frame, a battering relationship follows a cycle of violence that recurs over and over, (Walker, 1979). This is contrasted†¦show more content†¦Because this definition is so strict, and the experiences, motives, and events in the lives of battered women are so subjective and unique, it is easy to understand how there arise legal complications if and when these c ases make it to court. Additionally, it has been argued that the majority of battered woman who kill their abusers do so in psychological self-defense, which should be taken just as seriously despite its altered definition. The current understanding of self-defense in our justice system equates the â€Å"self† with the physical body, and thus self-defense can only be seen as preventing harm to this physical self. But much of the self that is being defended by these battered women is psychological. This psychological self â€Å"refers to both the physical and the mental being and thus includes such recognized and socially valued psychological attributes as security, autonomy, identity, consciousness, and spirituality,† (Ewing, 1990, 586). Injuring the psychological parts of the self is just as harmful and abusive as the physical, and thus this definition has a rightful place in the legal jargon that deals with battered women. But not all battered women end up kill ing her abuser. It is a relatively small percentage that does, but the similarities between those who kill their abusers paint a comprehensive picture. However, it is imperative to understand the psychological reasoning behind a battered woman who